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| Image by Adnan Islam |
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A GREETING
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
(Psalm 27:1)
A READING
Listen to me in silence, O coastlands;
let the peoples renew their strength;
let them approach, then let them speak.
(Isaiah 41:1)
MUSIC
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
On that day the inhabitants of this coastland will say, “See, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help and deliverance... And we, how shall we escape?”
(Isaiah 20:6)
A REFLECTION
God came to us because he wanted to join us on the road, to listen to our story, and to help us realize that we are not walking in circles but moving towards the house of peace and joy. This is the great mystery of Christmas that continues to give us comfort and consolation: we are not alone on our journey... Christmas is the renewed invitation not to be afraid and let him -- whose love is greater than our own hearts and minds can comprehend -- be our companion.
- from Gracias! A Latin American Journal by Henri Nouwen,
excerpted in Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J.M. Nouwen
VERSE OF THE DAY
Each one helps the other,
saying to one another, ‘Take courage!’
(Isaiah 41:7)
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| Image by Mohammad Moniruzzaman |
Today’s short verse reading from Isaiah forms part of the two chapters of reassurance that the prophet offers his people in Isaiah 40 and 41, and which are often quoted in Advent. “Comfort, comfort my people,” "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord," and "he shall feed his flock like a shepherd," all point to the promise of a restored and abundant renewal of life. Then at the start of Isaiah 41, we hear “listen to me in silence, o coastlands.” In this moment, the promise reaches out to nations and places further afield from those Isaiah is first speaking to, so that they too may hear the comforting words.
In our own troubled contemporary times, passages like these can be reassuring. But what happens to those who live under the oppression of systems designed to keep them in one place? When we look beyond our own borders and comfortable communities, how can we hold the message of comfort for those in very different faraway worlds?
The Rohingya people have been called the most oppressed minority in the world. Originally a people from Myanmar, they have been the victim of long-time conflict with Burmese authorities over questions of identity and self-autonomy. Rohingya were excluded from a 1982 Burmese law created by the mainly Buddhist state that identified eight ethnic groups entitled to citizenship in Burma (now Myanmar). As oppression followed and violence escalated, with extreme acts of oppression, torture, and gender violence. More than seven hundred thousand Rohingya have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, overwhelming that country. In 2021, an agreement between the government of Bangladesh and the UNHCR was made to move thousands of Rohingya people to Bhasan Char, an island off the southern coast of Bangladesh. Since then, 40,000 people have been moved from refugee camps in Bangladesh to the island refugee camp. Known for its routine flooding, Bhasan Char appears to solve one problem while creating many more: the island cuts the Rohingya off from their neighbouring communities and does not really offer them a way to sustain themselves or make a living. As many as 100,000 refugees are expected to eventually live on the island.
In Advent we long for the ‘prince of peace’ to come and help us restore our world to a place of safety, dignity and abundance for all people. How can we say “take courage” with our hands and feet of care to those who struggle?
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A STORY OF HOPE
In many Rohingya refugee camps in southeast Asia, partnerships are created with international aid organizations to help communities plant and grow their own food, and create a marketplace. In this video, we hear about one such project in Cox's Bazar, a large refugee settlement in Bangladesh. How can we learn from those who find happiness in growing food, even while life remains very hard for them?
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LC† Seeds of Hope is a project of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook, and on Twitter. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help support the ongoing work.
Thank you and peace be with you!